Vehicle spring suspension



T. FRANZEN VEHIGLE SPRING sUsP-a NNNN N I l N 'l' l *L bg, ,if

f l Y A' l 4 1927. Oct T. FRANZEN VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Filed Deo. 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v gnou/tov fr@ [a Nj 6l?? *www Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

iiNi'iE sr r l TORE FRANZEN, OF DETROIT;MICHIGAN,'ASSIGNOR'TOVDETROIT STEELPRODUGTSfCOIVI- i IPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN;

VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION.

The invention relates to vehicle spring suspensions and has for one of its objects the provision of a progressively increasing resistanceL to theflexing of vafload carrying v spring. Another object is the provision of an arrangement for minimizing the torque exerted upon a load ycarrying spring when thefresistance offering means affects the spring.'V l VVVith these aswell asl other objects in Y vievvthe invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of'parts as more fully herein- 'after set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a motor vehicle frame having applied thereto a spring suspension embodying my invention; r

Figure 2 is asimilar view showing a modied construction. y

In the vehicle spring suspension shown in Figure 1, lis the frame of a' motor vehicle and 2 the main load carrying springs connected to the side lsills 3 of the frame. These main springs 'are preferably Isemielliptic and are suitably pivotally connected at their ends to the side sills 4 .are auxiliary springs vfor resisting the flexing o f. the main springs, there being an auxiliary spring above each main. spring and .spaced therefrom. Each auxiliary spring is connected to its respective main spring preferably vvith the same shackles 5 which connect the main spring to lthe axle housing 6, a spacer 7 being provided between the clamped portions of the main and auxiliary springs so that these springs are prevented from eoininginto contact at any time, n

- Each auxiliary spring has anl end portion 8 which is longer and more flexible that the end portion 9 and this spring is also prefererably arranged with relation to the frame 1 that the end of the endl portion 8 Will come into contact with the frame or a stop secured thereto prior to contact of the end of the end portion 9 With the frame or a stop secured thereto. As a consequence the resistance offered by the auxiliary spring to the flexing of the main spring isinitially the resistance offered by the end portion 8 of the auxiliary spring and then the resist.- anee oerfed by both the end portion 8 and j Application 1ed December 2, 1924. Y Serial No. 753,519. i

end portion 9V so that itrmay be said that this resistance .progressively increases.

'llo minimize Vthe torque ,uponthe'main springs 4and frame the auxiliary springs 4 at opposite sides of the frame are -reverselyar- -rangedg That is, the end portion 8 ofthe auxiliary spring at onel side of the frame 6o is in advance of theanchoredportionjifnl the auxiliary spring While theH rend portion 8 of the other auxiliary spring is inf'rear of the anclioi'edportion .ofl that' Spring. With this `arrangementft'he torque imposedvby the auxiliary spring at one side, of the frame when itsy endportionS rcomesf .into Contact With theframe oristop thereon is inl the opposite directiontothat imposed by the auxiliary spring at the other side of the frame When its end portion 8y comes into contact with the frame or stop thereon,.`,

the tivo substantially counterbalancing each other and the stress being carried through the axle housing 6.

As shown in Figure 2', 10k is the frai'ne l having the side sills `'11. 12 are themain springs suitably connected to the side sills and v13 are the auxiliary springs connected.y

than the end portion 18 and is adapted .to Y' come into Contact vvitlithe stop' 19 prior to contact of the end portion 18 With the stop 20. These stops 19 and 20 are in the nature' lof brackets secured to the side Isills 11.` These auxiliary springs are preferably reversely arranged in th-e same manner as the auxiliary springs of Figure 1.

7h at I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination With a vehicle frame, of avspring secured in spaced relation thereto and means comprising an auxiliary spring secured to said spring and having the end portion thereofslidably engaging said frame for offering a` progressively increasing resistance to `the flexing'tliereofi 2. of spring' secured thereto; an aiixiliry' The combination with a vehicle frame,

i spring"v secured to said first-mentioned; spring andl'leansrupon said frame for limiting the Mumie-mes.

-, spring seemedltersaid firstmentionedjspring and having end portions of different Vstrength i t `Vand means upon said frame foriflinniting'the times.' ;V Y

movement ofsaidend portions at different 24.' --rThe combination ,ivith a vehicle.- traine,V

- '5,1 ,fr je cpmb'jmon" wiufia 4feinem frame, n i; spirigs-r"secured to'opposite sidesy housing'secured to sadinain M o 4eiit` strength,v said rauxiliaryV "mmsffbemgfreveelyinfringedand means 3.V T he'eombination with la, Vehicle freine,

ianping-Lisecured' thereto,`l an kauxiliary 'Slf'llie Coinliin'ation 'Within of :i spring. connected theretoeindineainsV comprising-an auxiliary spring haviiiglpoi'm' 'tions slidatbl-yengaging'saidI traine' andpfferportion oiffless length` saudniihfspring's and having. lenday por- `upon said fra-me for successively limiting the'inoveinents of the end portions of said auxiliary springs. l

6. Tliecombination with veh'ie'le` freinel andv anaXle housing, of main springs secured 1 tosaidaxle'ghousingjat opposite-sides@if-seid 1 l frarmeyan auxiliary sptingfseeured to 'each of said mainl springsl and'means Vuponsaid frame 'fon engaging at the saine time a por: Y

tion ot onea'uxiliary. springin reir of said axle/housing'andi aportion ofthe 4other auxiliary spring, 1n advance of saidaxle. housing. v

'7. The c'on'ibination"Witliva 4Vehicle vifiarne; of a spring see'uie-d thereto, and .a 'member seeure'dlt'o and spacedfrom 'Said spring the" i'lex'ing of sfaid spring;

l ing success'ively inereasingesistance totlie lexingof ysaid spring.rk

'Y ing'- @slidingv engagementwith said fam'e'frf offering successively in'ceas'in'g resistance to* vehicle frame, Y'

In testiinony Wlieijeofl'aifiixiiiifA signature. i 

